Overview
- The Landgericht Stuttgart began a series of trials against alleged backers of the Calabrian 'Ndrangheta, including a 47-year-old police sergeant from Aalen.
- Prosecutors allege the officer twice queried police databases in January 2022 and passed a license plate and personal data to a mafia-linked associate.
- Defense counsel said the officer will address the charges during the proceedings, and his Italian co-defendant plans to testify.
- In a separate case, the officer admitted ordering a "beating" for a superior, with a psychiatric expert citing a possible manic episode and a verdict expected next week.
- A linked fraud case alleges a Fellbach fake firm obtained goods and pizza machinery, diverting more than €330,000 to local restaurateurs; the suspects were arrested in the German–Italian Operation Boreas, which produced 34 warrants.